What's new on WDCB? ... with Paul Abella

Here's what's new on WDCB this week...

Peter Bernstein – What Comes Next (Smoke Sessions)

Guitarist Peter Bernstein's latest, What Comes Next, is a laid back collection of mostly original tunes from a solid quartet - Sullivan Fortner on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. The relaxed tempos breathe nicely, and in those moments when they do turn up the heat, like on Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma", it's exhilarating.

Matt Wilson Quartet – Hug! (Palmetto)

Drummer Matt Wilson is back with another album featuring his piano-less quartet, called Hug! Jeff Lederer is playing saxophone, Kirk Knuffke is the cornetist, and Chris Lightcap plays bass, alongside drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson, for a set of songs by Wilson, Gene Ammons, Dewey Redman and even Roger Miller. The disc is fun, sometimes right in the pocket, sometimes mellow, and sometimes exploratory, it's hard to hold back a smile when listening to this one.

Matt Ulery – Pollinator (Woolgathering)

Matt Ulery is always good for an interesting record, and on his latest, Pollinator, he's produced an even more interesting record than usual. With Ulery playing sousaphone instead of his usual acoustic bass, this is an album that sounds like a throwback to the earliest days of Jazz, through the lens of a thoroughly modern player and composer. Featuring James Davis on trumpet, Dustin Laurenzi on tenor, Steve Duncan on trombone, Paul Bedal on piano and Quin Kirchner on drums.